The next morning, I was buried in a book when an interesting roar filled the air.

"Pickles?" Yoshi asked, blinking. Tommy roared again.

"Oh you were saying warship! Weird time to be asking for pickles, I mean, who can eat when we're under attack" Yoshi said

I looked up sharply as father and I hurried to the edge of the ship. Father pulled out the spyglass.

"Who is it?" I ask

"Blair müdfly" father replied

I clenched my fists.
"I knew that man was up to something" I mutter

"We're in there sights. Cannons taking aim" father said

"It's time for me to slip into something less comfortable" I announce.

"No, it's time for me, not you" father argued.

"What? No! I'm doing this" I said

"Nova, look at me. Let me do this- please. I can't risk losing you again " he said

I paused, searching his eyes.
"Alright. Hurry it up. And be careful, please" I said

A whales voice boomed from the sea.
"Helloooooo" a whale said

"I bought a front row seat to crazy town" Kevin- the squirrel- exclaimed.

"Once I've been secured, you pull me out of Yoshis signal." Father told cheech.

"Me?! I can't handle that type of pressure doc. I'm a cheer quietly from the sidelines type of gorilla." Cheech panics

"Don't worry cheech. You'll rise to the occasion. You're stronger than you know. Now remember courage is not the absence of fear-" father said, but his mask cuts him off.

"Wait! You got cut off, I-i can't hear you. I need the second part!" Cheech panicked.

"No time cheech. Let's go" poly yells

They lowered him into the water, Yoshi jumping in after. The next few minutes felt like hours. The enemy ship loomed closer.

Then- gunfire.
"Watch out!" I yelled, ducking as cannonballs tore through the mist.

Cheech screamed.
"I dropped the rope!" He said

My heart sunk.

I sprinted across the deck. I grabbed the rope, stubbins right behind me. Together we heaved, the rope burning our palms.

"Yoshi!!" I shouted.

"Hang on guys! I'm coming!" He yelled

"You're going great" Yoshi said, grabbing the rope behind us.

"Just hurry up and pull!" I yell

Plim grumbled.
"Oh this is gonna murder my back" he said

"Quit complaining you oversized flamingo!" Yoshi yells

Then- snap.
The rope broke.

"No!" I screamed

I run to the edge, but his helmet comes flying over. Then a hand appeared on the edge of the ship.

I lunged forward, helping him over. He collapsed on the deck, soaked but smiling.

"I let you down doc" cheech mutters

"Look at me. I'm fine, we're all fine." Father said

"I froze" cheech whispered, looking downs

"No no no cheech. It's ok to be scared." Father said

He turned to me and stubbins.
"You two saved me, did you? Fair play. Thanks very much. Well done everybody." Father said, standing up.

I rolled my eyes but smiled.
"You nearly gave me a heart attack father, I thought I lost you. Don't do that again" I  said

"No promises. But I will promise I'll always come back" he smiled.

"Good" I said softly

A later I helped stubbins with the animals languages again- though honestly, he hardly needed it. He was a natural.

When I finality crawled into bed, the ship rocking gently beneath me, I smiled faintly. Tomorrow, we'd reach the place I once called home.